SW New Mexico News

New Mexico State University has appointed Enrico Pontelli, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as the "Special Advisor to the Provost for AI." This announcement was made by interim Provost Lakshmi Reddi. Pontelli will be responsible for advising on strategy and implementation of artificial intelligence initiatives at the university.

Pontelli expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “I’m excited to get started immediately. I think it’s good that the university is recognizing the importance of doing this.” He acknowledged that while it is a comprehensive effort, progress will take time.

In addition to being a Regents professor in computer science at NMSU, Pontelli serves as a contact for the New Mexico AI Consortium. He volunteered for this advisory position without financial compensation. His responsibilities include unifying and coordinating AI activities across campus, enhancing their visibility, and fostering collaborations to attract external funding.

“Dean Pontelli will lead efforts to unify and coordinate our AI activities across campus (academic and non-academic), enhance their visibility and foster large-scale collaborations that attract external funding,” said Reddi. She emphasized Pontelli's deep understanding of AI activities at NMSU and his connections at state and national levels as qualifications for guiding these efforts.

Reddi plans to support Pontelli with staff assistance as he implements communication structures, organizes events, plans meetings, and develops working groups. Among his goals are creating a website showcasing NMSU’s AI research and education efforts along with a catalog of AI expertise from all colleges within the university.

Pontelli noted that there is significant AI activity across NMSU’s colleges: “I've already started collecting this information... We want to create a place for AI at NMSU.” He also intends to establish an AI council representing various areas within the university.

Pontelli aims to adopt best practices from other universities with similar AI structures in place. Cross-campus collaboration will extend beyond research projects to include training students in proper use of AI and addressing faculty concerns about integrating it into curricula.

“Faculty have questions about how they can deal with AI in their classrooms when students use AI to cheat,” Pontelli explained. Workshops will be organized to help faculty incorporate AI into their teaching methods rather than opposing its use.

NMSU is also engaged in K-12 educational efforts by developing professional development programs for teachers on using AI with students. “Right now, we have funding from the New Mexico Public Education Department,” said Pontelli regarding these initiatives.

He also plans community involvement through public events featuring discussions on various aspects of artificial intelligence. Pontelli sees basic knowledge of AI as essential for future careers across different fields: “AI eventually will become part of every profession.”